Stripes

That’s about it. I’ll also root for the Chargers I guess. I’d prefer they win out and take the 5-seed, so the Bengals avoid them in the first round.

Last postseason was the best thing about 2022. Only one way to top it in 2023.

Some Bengals veterans (e.g., Boyd and Mixon) have been making some blatant comments about the Bills defense to the media that aren't necessarily "insulting", but will clearly be taken as bulletin board material in the same way Brady's "fairly tough defense" was. I'm not necessarily mad about it. Just make sure you cash every check you write. I don't know to what extent (if any) it's deliberate, but I could see the Bills being an ideal team to challenge in this way. They're the ones stuck under the hump with something to prove, and it could be easier to get in their heads that way -- not all that different from the Palmer/Dalton Bengals sans the utter postseason failure.

They have made it clear from draft day onward that they value versatility, and that extends to the coaches and the gameplans. It’s another example if adaptability. I just hope it works. I like Prince vs. Rousseau a lot more than I would Prince vs. Von Miller.

I’ll reserve judgment about the Prince decision until I see him on the field. The coaches have had things right so far this season.

It’s just one random simulation they pulled out of 10,000. Certainly one that’ll earn clicks from Bengalia.

Probably a little gamesmanship to keep the Bills uncertain as they gameplan.

A little concerning.

1-seed hopes took a hit today. I think we were all looking at the KC @ LV game as the best chance for a Chiefs slip up. Well the Raiders benched Derek Carr, and it’s pretty hard to see Jarrett Stidham winning that game.

Simmons said a little bit about McPherson's rough day.

I can't match the covid, but my furnace is bad too. The water heater is broken, and I am stuck here suffering in the smell of my own un-showered crotch. This has been a Stripes post on bengalszone.com

I was playing with one of the playoff machines, and there exists an extremely remote scenario in which the Bengals will need the Bears to defeat the Vikings to obtain the AFC 1-seed in week 18. It's so improbable that this post is pointless, but it is a lot of fun to screw with these things (this particular scenario requires a Bengals/Bills tie and a ton of other things that leave the 1-seed at the strength of victory tiebreaker).

The Jets can also still get in by winning out (they play @Seahawks and @Dolphins, both free-falling) and getting one loss from the Patriots (@Dolphins and vs. Bills). Otherwise there are very low-probability scenarios for the Raiders and Steelers. Essentially, the 7-seed is going to be a bad playoff team in almost every iteration, so the 2-seed is very attractive if the 1-seed doesn't work out. Hosting whatever 7-seed and then the Bills would be pretty decent all things considered. I also think the 5-seed Chargers at the 1-seed Chiefs in the divisional round would be dangerous for the Chiefs.

This is going to be a long, boring week. Here's a prediction: Bengals: 67658455 Bills: -4

I completely bought into Money Mac when he had a 14/14 postseason. I’m not worried.

I don’t think there’s much chance of Hubbard playing, but Hurst should help.

Adeniji at least should perform better at his natural position (tackle) than he did at guard in the postseason last year. The offensive line is still far better on the interior.

Per 538's model, the biggest games of each of the last two weeks league wide are the games being played in Cincinnati. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nfl-predictions/games/?ex_cid=rrpromo

7-seed Steelers at 2-seed Bengals sounds alright to me. I understand that I am basically giving the football gods the finger by saying so.

Yeah. Fuck. Adeniji didn’t grade well in New England. Gonna have to grind.

Whew. Glad they were able to get that sorted.

The Bills open as 1.5 point road favorites. I appreciate the free motivation.

Would be a huge win. Even without the 1-seed it’d force them to turn right back around and come back to Cincinnati for the divisional round.

The Patriots converted multiple 3rds and long against triple coverage, with a barely-good catch on the sideline, with a colossal fluke ricochet TD, and forced a Chase fumble. That’s not to mention the miscommunication and pick six. I’m throwing it out. Horrible luck throughout the second half and the Bengals won anyway. We’re on to Buffalo.

Thank goodness. I suggest we all throw out that second half. New England had more than one very unlikely play to keep them alive.